Advice for Visitors to New Mexico

Planning to visit New Mexico? There are a lot of things to do and places to explore, but a lack of human settlements makes preparedness crucial to having a pleasant, relaxing experience, rather than a harrowing ordeal. It is common for locals to carry a variety of useful gear in their car, which in some cases can begin to resemble hoarder behavior, but there are legitimate reasons for most items. For example, carrying an axe in your trunk probably has more to do with a need for firewood than homicidal tendencies.

In an effort to ensure that visitors enjoy their travels in the Land of Enchantment, I compiled a list of useful tips with a lot of valuable input from locals who follow New Mexico Nomad online. Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of advice to visitors from locals…

Water.

There is nothing like coming to a region known for drought to make you appreciate the importance of water. When wandering far from a city or town, take a lot of water. Buy a cooler. Carry more in your backpack than you think you will need. Yes, it is heavy. Carry extra anyway. Purchase a micro filter if you will be near a body of water. They are cheap.

It is challenging to gauge hydration in New Mexico. It is so dry that your perspiration dissipates. When active, you may not realize how much water you are losing. Heatstroke is common. Combined with the high altitude sickness frequently experienced by those from sea level, it may take newcomers a couple of days to acclimate to the climate and altitude transition. Symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, nausea, shortness of breath and inability to exercise.

Keep the gas tank full.

The concept of ‘close’ is subjective and prone to cultural interpretation. For people from high density population areas, less than 25 miles is close. Depending on where you live in New Mexico, 100 miles may seem close.

The potential for getting lost, with countless roads to nowhere, and a lack of gas stations along the way, make monitoring the gas tank more important than other places, where gas is usually within walking distance or a passing motorist will give you a lift. In large swaths of New Mexico there may be no gas station and no friendly motorist in close proximity. If I intend to head somewhere off the interstate system, I fill up the tank. If possible, don’t allow your tank to be less than half full.

Beware the path less traveled.

When contemplating routes that involve forest roads in the mountains, be realistic about your vehicle’s capability. There are many places that are inaccessible without 4 wheel drive. A lot of forest roads are not navigable for vehicles with low suspension nor are they 4-cylinder friendly. Even 4 wheel drive is no guarantee that you won’t get stuck. To complicate matters, it isn’t unusual for roads to be deceptively pleasant initially only to deteriorate alarmingly, often coinciding with an inability to turn around.

There is nothing like finding yourself on a narrow road, flanked by cliffs, at a slope that won’t allow you to slow down or stop, lest gravity send you and the car backwards off a precipice, often while chanting loudly ‘this is a bad idea, a bad idea, a bad idea’ shrilly, usually combined with more profane utterances, while mulling the epiphany that your vehicle was not made for this purpose. Been there, done that, lesson learned. In these situations it is inevitable that there won’t be anyone around to rescue you and there probably won’t be a cell phone signal.

The ability to change a tire is necessary and basic tools are useful.

This relates to the last two. Car issues acquire additional layers of complication in the absence of repair facilities, tow trucks, cell phone reception and a lack of traffic on secondary roads. Expect inopportune break downs if you have a car that is unreliable. Your tire will invariably go flat at the worst possible time. It is Murphy’s law of motoring in New Mexico. When the battery dies, there won’t necessarily be a motorist to provide a jump start. Having a spare tire, tools, and knowing how to change a tire, is a very useful, if not critical, life skill west of the Mississippi, particularly if you are planning to wander far outside the city limits. The standard issue kit for changing tires is often comparable to changing a tire with a wire hanger and a toothpick.

Prior to learning this valuable skill, there was an adventure between Vaughan and Roswell that involved being followed by a herd of cows until I was rescued by Cheech and Chong in a Monte Carlo. It is a long story that began with a car breakdown. I like cows, but they are intimidating when there are dozens of them trotting in close proximity, jostling you, while heavy breathing in your ears. Once again, lesson learned. Now I travel with a mobile jump start kit and a small hydraulic jack.

Stock up on lotion.

Suntan lotion and moisturizers are vital. For those unaccustomed to dry climates, your skin will immediately parch like a sun dried raisin. Within an hour of arriving, you will be able to write on your flesh due to dry skin. Please see #1 regarding water. Drink lots of it. Note how infrequently you urinate. Evaporation. It’s amazing.

Additionally,if you don’t plan to stay inside a building, purchase suntan lotion. The nuclear testing did a number on the ozone in this area and we have an average of 300+ days of sun per year. Tanning is inevitable. The sun is unavoidable. Unlike many places, finding shade can be a challenge. Many locals have developed an increased, albeit unconscious, awareness of shadows in close proximity, automatically migrating for respite from the sun. I call it shade surfing. For fair skin, purchase SPF 1000.

Get a hat…or several.

In the absence of shade, it is necessary to create your own. Perhaps this practical consideration was what gave birth to the cowboy hat and sombrero. Hats are not an accessory in New Mexico and local fashion goes far beyond the baseball hat, trucker hat and cowboy hat, with multiple local retailers selling every type of hat imaginable. I love hats. Having a good excuse to own a variety is just a perk of living in New Mexico. My personal favorite in Albuquerque is the Man’s Hat Shop on Central Avenue (downtown).

Extra clothes and layering.

The temperature in New Mexico varies significantly every day. You can roast during the day and freeze at night. A 30-40 degree swing in temperature is normal. Even during the heat of the summer we tend to get a rapid reprieve from the heat as the sun sets. Weather is unpredictable, particularly at higher elevations. Assume that you are dressed inappropriately and take additional options. Layering is key when hot and cold are likely to occur in rapid succession.

Take extra batteries for any critical electronic devices.

Whereas there is something to be said for leaving the electronic gadgets and trappings of civilization behind…to live in the moment, I like to savor my moments with photography. The number of times I have been somewhere beautiful, on a photo lark, only to run out of batteries is beyond counting. If you are also fond of taking photos, videos, checking your cell phone neurotically, etc., take extra batteries and SD cards.

Be aware of the inconsistent cell phone reception.

The cell towers along the interstates usually provide consistent coverage for most carriers, but once you venture off the interstates cell phone reception drops. For those addicted to being digitally plugged in, withdrawal may ensue. Given that the internet era has cultivated the expectation that everyone should be available 24/7, the solitude provided by a legitimate lack of cell phone reception is priceless. If that is an unsatisfactory response and you find yourself in the middle of nowhere in need of a bar or two, I have found that metal cattle grates increase reception. If you can find a random cattle grate on a hill, it almost always yields a bar or two, regardless of how remote you may be.

Eat local.

New Mexico is an oft overlooked treasure for gourmands. If you are visiting New Mexico and eating at chain restaurants, you are missing out on a significant part of the experience. Not only does New Mexico have distinctive culinary fare, we also have numerous restaurants with national prestige.

With a vibrant café culture and numerous local restaurateurs serving up everything from comfort food to award winning cuisine, patronage of local establishments is a must. Check out the Nomad recommendations for a chile fix in Santa Fe or Albuquerque or the statewide Dining Guide. Here are a few recipes if you prefer New Mexican cuisine from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Respect Wildlife.

It isn’t a question of whether you will see wildlife when wandering the wilds of New Mexico, it is more a matter of proximity, frequency and whether that encounter is hazardous for either party. There are the obviously dangerous species, like bear, mountain lions and rattlesnakes, but it isn’t a good idea to surprise or vex an elk or scorpion either. There was an old lady that chased a bear out of her kitchen with an oversized zucchini several years ago, but I wouldn’t count on that approach. A bear killed a camper a few years ago, because it wanted her Doritos. True story.

After writing this article, I received outstanding input from folks on Facebook and Twitter. A few of their recommendations below…

“Have a hat that ties onto your head. The wind can be fierce. Carry toilet paper and some plastic bags in your car. Wear a bandanna to cover the back of your neck when outdoors. Don’t touch the pretty cactus. If you’re not used to eating hot chile, order a glass of milk to drink with your meal. Stomp your feet when walking through a rocky area to prevent warn rattlesnakes. Never put your hands between rocks. Any area that is posted as restricted is truly a place you don’t want to go. Many rural roads are impassible in the winter– if it is getting dicey, turn back.”

“Carry extra layers of clothes to change into when the sun goes down in the fall and winter. Understand that elevation can make a huge difference in driving conditions and temperature. Places like Alamogordo have totally different conditions than Cloudcroft, even though they are just 20 minutes away from each other. Most of all, use common sense before off-roading in the mountains.”

“Distances are huge – takes many hours to drive from one part of the state to another.”

[Nomad commentary] New Mexico is the 5th largest state in the United States. It would seem bigger if it wasn’t located next to Texas. People often plan trips that involve more time in a car than outside of it, usually driving right past all sorts of interesting places in the process of traversing the state to see the highlights. It is best to anticipate that you may need to visit more than once to see many of the countless things worth seeing and activities worth doing.

[Nomad commentary] This isn’t really a ‘may’ so much as inevitable. Until my new dog decided that toilet paper in the car was meant to be converted into confetti, I always traveled with a roll of toilet paper in the car. As the next person notes, it is also common to find yourself pulling over when there isn’t more than a creosote bush for cover. Even in areas where there is little to no traffic, someone will probably drive by the moment you drop your pants.

Sally Ragan

“Always look at a map or computer to see how far it is to your destination. Most times there are no pit stops available, there may not be a tree to hide behind. Pace the hydration with rest stop available. Several years ago, while taking my daughter-in-law to Carlsbad Caverns from Alamogordo,she asked how far. We replied 4 hours. She had purchased the biggest drink Allsups sells, 40 oz i guess. There is no place to stop between Alamogordo and Artesia. Thought she would bust a bladder before we found a gas station for her needs. Just a practical word to the wise.

[Nomad commentary] Road snacks are always a good idea, particularly if you are out hiking for the day. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, travel snacks are a must, because getting specialty items outside of the larger communities is hit or miss (usually miss).

Although most Pueblos are open to the public during daylight hours, the homes are private.

Tribes value traditions, customs and religion. Please keep in mind that tribal dances are religious ceremonies, not public performances. It is a privilege to witness a ceremony. Some actions and/or questions could be offensive, so please refrain from pressing for answers.

Some Pueblos charge an entry fee. Camping and fishing fees are charged where such facilities are available. Call ahead to find out if there are fees associated with visiting.

Most Pueblos require a permit to photograph, sketch or paint on location. Some Pueblos prohibit all of the above. Please check with the Tribal Office for the permitting process before entering the Pueblo. Once a permit is obtained, always ask for permission before taking a photograph of a tribal member. Remember: cameras and film can be confiscated.

The carrying or use of alcohol and drugs on the Pueblos is strictly prohibited.

Silence is mandatory during all dances and Pueblo ceremonies. This means no questions about the ceremonies or dances while they are underway; no interviews with the participants; no walking across the dance plaza; and no applause during or after the dance or ceremony.

Pueblo villages, including Kivas, ceremonial rooms, and cemeteries are sacred places and restricted for use by Pueblo members only.

Many of the structures are hundreds of years old. Do not scale walls or climb on top of buildings.

Nature is sacred on the Pueblos. Littering is strictly prohibited.

On Feast Days and other public observances, enter a Pueblo home as you would any other, by invitation only. It is courteous to accept an invitation to eat, but not to linger at the table, as your host will want to serve numerous guests throughout the day. Thank your host, but a payment or tip is not appropriate.

Please obey all traffic and speed limit signs. Children and pets play near the roads. Also be cautious of livestock on or near main roadways.

Observe all signage indicating off limits while visiting a Pueblo.

If organized tours are offered, please remember to stay with your tribal guide at all times.

Refrain from bringing a cell phone onto Pueblos. Tribal officials could confiscate cell phones if they feel they might be used for photography or recording.

Do not remove artifacts, pottery shards or other items from the Pueblo.

Tribal communities do not use the clock to determine their schedule of activities. Nature and the sequence of events that must take place determine the start and finish times for ceremonies.

“Learn when monsoon season is & plan your days accordingly. Stay at least one night away from light pollution. Stargaze well after sunset & ideally, plan that for a night when there’s no moon. Read “great river” by Paul Horgan both before & after your trip.”

[Nomad commentary] Monsoon season is typically in July and/or August. If you are looking for star gazing opportunities, please see dark sky locations.

Yet more input from my fellow New Mexico wanderers…

Robert Burtch

“I would add that if you are driving after dark, be extremely aware of the possibility of encountering large herds of wildlife milling about in the middle of a dark road. I’m not talking about a lone deer or two. My wife and I left Taos before dawn to drive home to Topeka. We headed north toward the San Luis Valley but still were in NM. I noticed that the headlights of an oncoming car were flickering. Legs! My wife slammed on the brakes as we ran into a large herd of mule deer or elk at almost 60 mph. The animals scattered to all sides, and we didn’t touch even one. We came to a stop in the road, and some prayers were said.

Except for the altitude and high trails, most of your hints also apply in Kansas, especially in the summer, including my tip about wildlife, plus escaped cattle and horses. The odds of hitting a bison are slim to none, however, unless you’re in Yellowstone!”

Mimi Cox

“We do have Buffalo. At least down in Hildago county they have the yellow road signs with buffalo on them.”

Sue Maness

“We have buffalo in Lincoln County also!! But it is the elk that will destroy your vehicle! I do get tickled when guests say “Even God needs a map to find your house” and it IS pokemon free zone!! If people with cell phones need to contact me enroute, they have to be on top of hills! Neighbors are about 10 miles apart! Loads of peace and privacy with almost no vandalism and mayhem!! My grandmother always said we live 50 miles from nowhere and 10 miles from there! Most people turn around at the 50 mile mark and go back thinking they are lost.”

Mardella Rowland

“If you are heading towards Ojo Caliente way from Pilar over the Taos Junction, make sure Hwy 567 is open”

Chris Bundy

“Concerning eating local, I’d like to add that everyone should try the gas stations that have grills and serve food. After living in Taos for many years and exploring the entire state I can safely say that some of the best food we’ve had has been in gas stations. I highly recommend the Chaco Grill in the gas station on the far north end of main street in Cuba, NM. The food at the Alto station in Costilla, NM (just this side of the border before San Luis, CO and, of course Bode’s in Abiquiu.”

Debbie Graff

“I so understand all 10 plus those written in the comments. I can only add that traveling thru any forest land during the spring wind will make you wish you left the axe at home and brought your chain saw. Roads are often impassable. I have so much to still see in NM and I have lived here for 22 years.”

Myron Sellers

“Being from Georgia I always thought I could make it to the next gas station. While in New Mexico in June I learned that wasn’t true in the land of enchantment. When you leave the Interstate or a larger town, fill up the gas tank . I rented a cabin that required a full tank of gas to make a round trip from town and back.”

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The Zia sun is seen everywhere, from commercial planes flown across the United States to tattoos proudly displayed as a badge of honor. It has become an international icon, associated

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The Zia sun is seen everywhere, from commercial planes flown across the United States to tattoos proudly displayed as a badge of honor. It has become an international icon, associated with the pride and prestige of the state of New Mexico. The Zia sun is seen everywhere, from commercial planes flown across the United States to tattoos proudly displayed. Yet, do we know the true origin of the Zia symbol and its original meaning? This exhibit will take you through the journey of the symbol’s origin in Zia Pueblo to its commodification that continues to grow in popularity, analyzing the question of ownership.

“Because the Zia sun has become a symbol of community and identity, we want to invite everyone to be involved,” says IPCC’s Curator of Exhibitions, Rachel Moore (Hopi). “We want the community to share their images and objects and be part of the exhibit, then come see it and learn more about this symbol that holds such great importance to our Pueblo people.”

People who want to contribute photos can submit their entries at www.IndianPueblo.org/OurZia or by using #OurZia when posting to Instagram or Facebook. Submissions of Physical objects is now closed.

For more information, or to inquire about lending an object, please contact Rachel Moore at rmoore@indianpueblo.org or (505) 724-3564.

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Established in 1712, this year Santa Fe will proudly celebrate 306 years of community and a spirit of inclusiveness at Fiestas de Santa Fe. The Santa

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Established in 1712, this year Santa Fe will proudly celebrate 306 years of community and a spirit of inclusiveness at Fiestas de Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Fiesta Council invites people from all backgrounds to celebrate historic Santa Fe culture with positive and progressive events meant to highlight the abundance of northern New Mexico cultura!

Viva la Fiesta

The cry of “Viva la Fiesta” has been reverberating through the streets of Old Santa Fe every autumn for 306 years. The sound generates a curious blend of thanksgiving, revelry and pride in the hearts of Santa Feans who celebrate Fiestas de Santa Fe annually to commemorate Don Diego De Vargas’ reoccupation of the City of Holy Faith in 1692.

Santa Fe, the historic capital, is one of the oldest in the United States. Don Juan de Oñate established the initial Spanish settlement in San Gabriel in 1598. He moved 30 miles south to the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to found Santa Fe in 1610. However, the Puebloans united to drive the Spanish from the province in 1680. They burned the city and drove the Spanish colonists south. The colonists fled to Guadalupe del Paso, now Juarez, Mexico. However, they rescued the 29-inch wood carved Marian statue, La Conquistadora, from the burning church. The relic was originally brought to Santa Fe in 1625 by the illustrious missionary, Fray Alonso de Benavides.

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From Michael
We are hard at work preparing for for my 17th Annual Big Barn Dance Music Festival. This year’s festival will be held September 5th-7th, 2019 in beautiful Kit Carson Park in

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From Michael

We are hard at work preparing for for my 17th Annual Big Barn Dance Music Festival. This year’s festival will be held September 5th-7th, 2019 in beautiful Kit Carson Park in the heart of Taos.

Nestled at the feet of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, fans can look forward to experiencing some of the best Folk and Americana music around while enjoying the natural beauty that only New Mexico can offer. Within walking distance of the festival grounds, attendees can explore the unique and vibrant culture of Taos through art galleries, local restaurants, and shops. We are honored that the Town of Taos has joined forces with Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance Music Festival.

At this year’s festival we’re hosting a line-up of talent that includes some of the most well-respected names in Country, Americana, and Folk music as well as up-and-coming songwriters who will leave you breathless. Stay tuned for details about other activities including songwriting workshops, dance lessons, art gallery tours, camping and more!

The three day event is a listening room experience in an outdoor festival setting that concludes with the Big Barn Dance. Bring your listening ears along with your dancin’ shoes.

Tickets are on sale now! As always we want to keep the Barn Dance the quality, intimate experience we all know and love. Once we sell out of tickets, we will not sell more at the door, so be sure to get your tickets in advance to ensure your spot in the best listening room and dance hall in New Mexico! Email questions to bigbarndance@hotmail.com

I will be touring throughout Texas, New Mexico and beyond this spring and summer. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter and follow me at facebook.com/michaelhearnemusic for my schedule information.

Hope to see all of you sometime soon and for sure at the Big Barn Dance!

Thank you, friends!

– Michael Hearne

History

The Big Barn Dance started out as informal Saturday night neighborhood two-steppin’ parties near Taos, New Mexico. Every couple of weeks all summer long during the 1990s, an authentic mountain country barn dance took off under the stars at Casa de Caballos Ranch in Des Montes, up the road from Taos. Michael’s band, South X Southwest, showed up with various friends and musical colleagues to pick, play and dance ’til the wee hours. Folks just kept coming, and the summer barn dances became a beloved tradition that music lovers and two-steppers looked forward to year after year.

For a decade afterwards, the Big Barn Dance was produced at the Old Blinking Light Restaurant and KTAOS Solar Center on Route 150, where the generosity, hospitality, food and fun were the best to be had. We thank Mike and Vee, Nat and Connie, KTAOS, and all the staff and volunteers for many years of wonderful memories.

The Barn Dance has also been held in the alpine beauty of Taos Ski Valley.

Evolving Over Time

Today, Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance Music Festival has transcended to being a premier musical event of the Southwest. Not to be missed, the Big Barn Dance will play out under the sun and stars in Kit Carson Park in the center of the Town of Taos, New Mexico, where Michael hosts a three-day Americana music extravaganza. Come catch your breath in the heart of the magical Sangre de Cristo Mountains the weekend after Labor Day. Stay in Taos and surrounding areas, where you’ll find Native American culture, the arts, fine dining and outdoor recreation.

Michael has maintained a friendship over the years with some of the finest songwriters and bands in the world. True to form, the Big Barn Dance provides a showcase for musical brilliance, allowing audiences an up-close and personal experience with songwriters as they spin tales revealing the creative process and the story behind the song.

The Big Barn Dance Music Festival is a listening room experience in a festival setting that concludes with the Big Barn Dance, so bring your listening ears as well as your happy feet.

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The Biggest Event of the Year!
The Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, the White Sands Balloon Invitational Committee and the City

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Event Details

The Biggest Event of the Year!

The Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, the White Sands Balloon Invitational Committee and the City of Alamogordo have partnered to present one of the most anticipated events in Southeastern New Mexico. This is the only time throughout the year that private aircraft can fly over the glistening gypsum dunes at the White Sands National Monument. This unique experience contiguous to the Music Festival has the quality to evolve into an event worthy of attracting major regional and national sponsors and a diverse audience drawn from a large geographic area in the years ahead. Naturally, we need to draw on our local businesses and community leaders for a portion of the financial resources necessary to execute an event of such caliber.

Featuring:

30+ balloons from around the world to include some of the most skilled pilots in the country

The Dates

Friday, September 6thThe 2019 WSBMF will kick off with a Pilot Reception on Friday Evening. This is for the pilots, sponsors and crew ONLY.

Saturday, September 7thBalloons will launch from Ed Brabson Balloon Park and expected launch time is from 7-7:30 a.m. Entry will open at 6:00 a.m. Food vendors will be on site. Balloons are expected to stay up for approximately 3 hours. Attendees will have the option to stay and enjoy vendors or come back for The Music Festival at 2:00 p.m. At approximately 7:00 p.m., the balloons will fire their burners and light up all at the same time to illuminate the night sky. The Festival will end at midnight.

Sunday, September 8thAround 30 balloons are expected to launch from 7 – 7:30 a.m. at the White Sands National Monument. Park entry will open at 6:00 a.m. No vendors or food will be provided at the park. Please be sure to bring your own water. For park rules, please visit https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/index.htm

***All activities are weather-permitting. All stated times are approximate.***

Event Details

Come out to see New Mexico restaurants battle it out to decide who has the best green chile cheeseburger this year at the 2019 New Mexico State Fair (agriculture building).

Event Details

Come out to see New Mexico restaurants battle it out to decide who has the best green chile cheeseburger this year at the 2019 New Mexico State Fair (agriculture building). There will be a panel of judges to decide, as well as a limited number of public tasters to vote on the People’s Choice Award! This is one challenge you don’t want to miss.

Time

(Monday) 11:00 am - 3:00 pm MST

Location

EXPO New Mexico

300 San Pedro Dr. N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108

Organizer

Taste the TraditionThrough our marketing efforts at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), we found that strong traditions formed a common thread across all New Mexico agricultural products. Whether it be a salsa, a sopaipilla mix, wine, green chile beef jerky, cheese, blanket woven with New Mexico grown wool, plat stock grown in one of our local nurseries, or seed stock from one of our many cattle ranches from across the state (as well as many others), all agricultural products that are in production today have a history steeped in family traditions that are worth emphasizing, talking about… and even celebrating! This is why NMDA, in 2000, Created the NEW MEXICO — Taste the Tradition and Grown with tradition program. While the main intent of using these logos is a way to promote New Mexico companies’ products and identify them as grown or made in the state, the program has become so much more.shacker@nmda.nmsu.edu

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Come sample New Mexico made beer and wines at the New Mexico State Fair! A New Mexico brewery and winery will be selling drinks in the courtyard of the agriculture

Event Details

Come sample New Mexico made beer and wines at the New Mexico State Fair! A New Mexico brewery and winery will be selling drinks in the courtyard of the agriculture building from 3-8 pm. Enjoy music, sample NM beef dishes, and celebrate NM agriculture at the New Mexico State Fair.

Time

13 (Friday) 3:00 pm - 14 (Saturday) 8:00 pm MST

Location

EXPO New Mexico

300 San Pedro Dr. N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108

Organizer

Taste the TraditionThrough our marketing efforts at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), we found that strong traditions formed a common thread across all New Mexico agricultural products. Whether it be a salsa, a sopaipilla mix, wine, green chile beef jerky, cheese, blanket woven with New Mexico grown wool, plat stock grown in one of our local nurseries, or seed stock from one of our many cattle ranches from across the state (as well as many others), all agricultural products that are in production today have a history steeped in family traditions that are worth emphasizing, talking about… and even celebrating! This is why NMDA, in 2000, Created the NEW MEXICO — Taste the Tradition and Grown with tradition program. While the main intent of using these logos is a way to promote New Mexico companies’ products and identify them as grown or made in the state, the program has become so much more.shacker@nmda.nmsu.edu

Event Details

The PASEO is a free, immersive, nighttime art festival that brings installation, projection, and performance art to Taos, New Mexico. The PASEO is unique in Taos thanks to its presentation

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The PASEO is a free, immersive, nighttime art festival that brings installation, projection, and performance art to Taos, New Mexico. The PASEO is unique in Taos thanks to its presentation of art forms that are not often found in galleries: art that does not hang on a wall, art that is participatory and transforms public spaces. Art on view not only engrosses audiences visually and aurally; visitors are invited to touch it, activate it, dance with it, step inside of it. This participatory nature encourages audiences to engage with one another in a communal experience. Each year, the festival welcomes approximately 6,000 visitors over two nights, and approximately 500 local youth participate in its education program. The festival and all programs are offered to the public 100% free of charge.

As it has successfully done for the past five years, the 2019 PASEO festival will activate public spaces of the Taos Historic District over two nights, September 13-14, 2019, from sunset to 11pm. The PASEO 2019 theme is “Connections,” featuring work that celebrates, contemplates, or questions our interactions with each other, nature, or the world. The festival will feature approximately 20 works, ranging from low-tech to new media, but united by their active engagement with the public and with place, whether projecting on Taos’s adobe walls or highlighting its historic acequias. Featured artists will be both local and international, selected through an open call process as well as invitations from the curator, J. Matthew Thomas, guided by an advisory committee with curatorial expertise in public, new media, conceptual, and participatory artwork.

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Pie Town will be hosting their annual Pie Festival on Saturday, September 14. It is a free, family friendly event. There will be a baking contest, live music, a fun

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Event Details

Pie Town will be hosting their annual Pie Festival on Saturday, September 14. It is a free, family friendly event. There will be a baking contest, live music, a fun run, and lots of pie.

Located in Catron County, Pie Town is just west of the Continental Divide at nearly 8,000 feet elevation. The Pie Town Post Office serves roughly 40 families in town and about 200 families on the surrounding ranches and subdivisions.

A Legacy of Pie

There are several versions of the story about how the town came to be called Pie Town. There may be some discrepancy in dates but these are the basic facts.

In 1922 a veteran of WW I by the name of Clyde Norman filed a 40-acre mining claim called the Hound Pup Load along the route of what would become US 60. Additionally, there was a trail next to his property to drive cattle to a railhead 60 miles to the east in Magdalena. It is called “the Driveway.” US 60 bills itself as the Nation’s first coast-to-coast highway. However, when Clyde Norman settled in the area, “the Driveway” was the more important route ,transporting both sheep and cattle to market.

Norman’s mining claim was not very successful, so he opened a small store to supplement his income. He sold gasoline, kerosene and pies made from dried fruit. Some versions of his story say he first tried selling donuts made by a lady in Datil, but she found out what he was doing, stopped selling to him and told him to make his own. He couldn’t, so he switched to the dried pies he had grown up with in Texas. Other stories say that Norman himself made the pies, but some versions say his teenaged niece did the cooking for him. At any rate, the pies were a hit with the cowboys on the cattle drives who went out of their way to stop at the pie town.

From Mining to Baking

In 1924, Harmon L. Craig bought a half-interest in Pie Town from Norman for “one dollar of good and lawful money and other good and valuable consideration.” The actual deed of sale recorded in the county seal shows that Craig actually paid $700. He got the land, the Hound Pup claim, and two cows with calves. A good deal, either way.

Craig became Pie Town’s leading citizen. He owned the mercantile store, a Chevron service station and garage, a café, and a pinto bean warehouse called “the Beanery.” The Beanery acted as a roller skating rink when beans weren’t being harvested. Most families that settled in Pie Town came from Texas and Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and established homesteads. The bean warehouse provided local homesteaders a way to market their crops. Dry farming pinto beans was a good deal in the ‘30s and 1940s. Mr. Craig helped these families by selling land below market value, and by making loans with no collateral and no interest.

When it came time to establish a post office for the town the Postmaster General thought Pie Town was not an appropriate name. However, local citizens insisted that was the only acceptable name. So Pie Town stuck.

Then and Now

In 1940, Farm Security Administration photographer Russell Lee took an extensive set of photographs of Pie Town, including some using the new Kodachrome color film. Those photographs are in the National Archives.

Today’s residents of Pie Town still have the sense of community and self-sufficiency that sustained the earlier settlers. They enjoy a unique tranquility of living in a place where you can still see the Milky Way.

Organizer

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The Grant County Fair is one of the many county fairs around the country that support

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The Grant County Fair is one of the many county fairs around the country that support and showcase agriculture. The fair highlights the exhibition and competition of the best domestic products of our area. Ribbons, plaques and trophies are awarded in a wide variety of categories such as livestock, jams and jellies, handicrafts and baked goods. The Rodeo and muscial entertainment along with other attractions are also part of the week-long celebration. There is something for everyone.

The most important aspect of the fair is teaching youth production skills through competition. Then, demonstrating these values to our community. Our youth learn the value of hard work, business and skills that will help them succeed throughout their lives. The fair in turn showcases the result of the youth’s hard work and dedication to their animals and other agricultural endeavors that make our country what it is.

Cliff-Gila Fair Association

The first Cliff-Gila Fair was held on a Saturday in the fall of 1948. It was originally going to be held in Silver City near where the race track was built in Arenas Valley(then known as Whiskey Creek). Enthusiasm for this idea waned and a partnership developed to have a county fair in Cliff sponsored by the Farm Bureau, Cliff School and the County Extension Service.

The Great Rock Wall at the Cliff School became the center piece for the first gathering of the fair. Here, temporary livestock pens were set up as well as 4-H exhibits. The women from the Farm Bureau and women in the valley provided lunch, which was served on the rock wall. In later years, fair-goers used the rock wall for seating after purchasing a barbeque lunch made by the Lions Club of Silver City.

As the years passed, a livestock barn was built. This barn originally housed the swine, sheep, cattle, the show/sales ring, and under the bleachers, pens for rabbits and poultry. The Cliff School gym and several other rooms were used for the other exhibits.

Rebranded as the Grant County Fair

The fair continued to grow. The old rodeo arena was torn down and a new one was constructed in its present location. The rabbit and poultry barn was added at the south end of the livestock barn. After the rabbit/poultry barn, the steer barn and sales ring were added followed by the dance slab, RV park and the new exhibit building.

In 2012, a mini tornado severely damaged the livestock barn. It was torn down and replaced with the new livestock barn. This now houses the rabbits, poultry, swine and steers.

The fair has continued to survive with dedicated volunteers trying to provide a location for the area youth to exhibit their agricultural projects, 4-H and FFA projects and school exhibits. The fair also encourages adults to exhibit their crafts, baking and other acomplishments.

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The 15th Annual Gila River Festival

The Gila Conservation Coalition hosts the 15th annual Gila River Festival September 19-22, 2019 in Silver City, NM, the Gila National Forest and along the Gila River.

The 2018 Gila River Festival featured expert-led field trips to the Gila River and Gila National Forest, focusing on local cultural and natural history, such as archaeology, rock art, birding, and more.

On-line registration for the 2019 Gila River Festival opens July 1, 2019.

About the Gila River Festival

The Gila River Festival is the Southwest’s premier nature festival, bringing people together to celebrate New Mexico’s last wild river. Established in 2005, the Gila River Festival is an annual event that celebrates New Mexico’s last free-flowing river and its important role as the centerpiece in our region’s natural and cultural heritage. The festival provides a diversity of opportunities for participants to experience and learn about the natural and cultural history of the area through the arts, humanities and natural sciences. The festival is designed to foster a deeper understanding of the Gila River as we explore annual program themes through expert-led field trips and workshops, lectures by scientists, authors, historians, and conservationists, and programming in the visual and performing arts, film, music, and dance.

Mission

The Gila River Festival’s mission is to educate and engage diverse audiences in the natural and cultural heritage of the Gila River and its watershed through an annual multi-disciplinary nature festival. Our goal it to provide enriching opportunities for participants to experience the Gila River first hand and from diverse perspectives, creating a deeper intimacy with the river and a strong sense of place.

Location | Silver City, New Mexico

Based in Silver City, New Mexico, the gateway to the Gila Wilderness — America’s first wilderness area. A variety of expert-guided field trips will be available to bring you unforgettable experiences of the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest and the Gila River, New Mexico’s last wild river. Silver City has a vibrant historic downtown and thriving art community. A wide variety of lodging options is available.

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The Mission of the Taos Fall Arts Festival is to celebrate the visual arts and artists in Taos County, to encourage the growth of emerging artists, and to create

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The Mission of the Taos Fall Arts Festival is to celebrate the visual arts and artists in Taos County, to encourage the growth of emerging artists, and to create an event where our artists can come together to exhibit and market their works for the delight and appreciation of the larger community.

Nestled amongst breathtaking vistas, blanketed under luminous skies, and steeped in an enticing blend of cultural diversity, Taos has inspired artists for over a century and risen to prominence as a world class art destination. Each autumn, both locals and visitors gather in anticipation of the Taos Fall Arts Festival (TFAF), an opportunity to experience and celebrate all the artists of Taos.

The 2019 festival will take place September 20 through September 29, 2019.

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¡Globalquerque! Schedule
The following artists will perform at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for ¡Globalquerque! 2019 (Sept. 20-21). Performances will take place on three stages,

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¡Globalquerque! Schedule

The following artists will perform at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for ¡Globalquerque! 2019 (Sept. 20-21). Performances will take place on three stages, all located at the NHCC (1701 4th St SW, at Avenida César Chávez). Enjoy the intimate courtyard setting of the Fountain Courtyard, the state of the art 692-seat Albuquerque Journal Theatre and dance outside on the Plaza Mayor.

Grounds open at 4 PM and performances start at 6:20 PM (Friday)/6 PM (Saturday) and run until at least 11:40 PM. The Global Village will be open into the night. There will also be FREE day programming on Saturday for families and adults, including workshops on music and folklore, crafts, and live performances. Visit the Global Fiesta page for more info.

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Picacho Mountain Outdoor Festival
The Picacho Mountain Outdoor Festival is an event to promote the great outdoor amenities within the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks Monument. This Festival will be the

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Picacho Mountain Outdoor Festival

The Picacho Mountain Outdoor Festival is an event to promote the great outdoor amenities within the Organ Mountain Desert Peaks Monument. This Festival will be the anchor for the month long Monuments to Main Street Celebration in September.

The event was born out of the vision of developers Bob and Karen Pofahl to sculpt a community into the desert landscape adjacent to the 13,000 acre Picacho Peak National Recreation Area. The goal was to create a community that preserved the natural open space and provided residents and the community easy access to the great outdoor amenities surrounding Picacho Peak.